Champion NZ footballer passes away
- Tuesday, November 09 2010 @ 05:30 pm ACDT
- Contributed by: Rod Shaw
- Views: 3,891
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In October 2008, the Western Bulldogs announced that they had signed two Fijian teenagers to the International Scholarship scheme. Inoke Ratu then 19, and Solomon Loki then 16 had impressed at trials conducted in Lavaca and Suva. Alas, Fijitimes reported recently that after 2 years, that the Bulldogs have declined to extend their ‘contracts’.
We've seen the inaugural European Championships, and each year North America has the US versus Canada. Now a senior Oceania Cup will be played in Auckland from November 12th to November 17th. Hosts the New Zealand Hawks will play against the inexperienced Tonga, traditional footy rivals Papua New Guinea and an exciting Oceania Allstars team.
New Zealand's initial selections for the Oceania Cup took place in September 2009 shortly after the Senior National Provincial Championships held in Auckland - part of long and steady build up to the tournament.
Further to our story David Rodan Cup 2010 run and won, AFL Asia Pacific manager Andrew Cadzow has advised that even more players than anticipated turned up to the Fijian tournament, with 130 players spread across 8 teams. Cadzow predicts, "They will be strong at the Oceania Cup (youth) and look very likely to be in a good position for a senior squad (for the International Cup) next year". In fact as many as 168 boys registered, from across 29 schools, with the event supported by the Rodan family, Sportsworld, Coca-Cola, the Fiji Police Band, and numerous locals who helped out such as providing lunch for all the players.
Below are photos by Dallas Swinstead, by permission of the Fiji Times, and Dylan Wolfgramm, with thanks to Dr Robert Wolfgramm.